Photovoltaic module installation device

ABSTRACT

A photovoltaic module installation device is provided, which is used for installing a photovoltaic module on a roof. The photovoltaic module installation device includes a fixture clipped on the roof, a lower connection piece locked on the fixture, a first support frame disposed on the lower connection piece, an upper connection piece and a second support frame. The upper connection piece is fitted on the first support frame and is locked with the lower connection piece. The second support frame is perpendicularly fixed on the first support frame, and the photovoltaic module is fixed on the second support frame.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to China Application Serial Number 201010550451.4, filed Nov. 16, 2010, which is herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of Invention

The present invention relates to a photovoltaic module. More particularly, the present invention relates to a photovoltaic module installation device.

2. Description of Related Art

Photovoltaic energy is a kind of energy source. Facing the increasing shortage of earth resources, as well as the pollution and safety problems caused by the power driven by a fossil fuel or nuclear energy, photovoltaic energy is a potential alternative energy resource, and many developed countries and large-scale enterprises make efforts in this field to develop the alternative resource.

A photovoltaic module is mostly installed on a roof or the like which is directly irradiated by the sunlight and is not easily shielded by shadows. The traditional method for fixing a photovoltaic module includes using an adhesive to fasten a base onto a roof and then using a bolt to lock the photovoltaic module on the base. However, in this fixing method, the roof needs to be drilled, and even if a waterproof adhesive is coated on the drilling portion, a risk of water leakage still exists. Since the base is fastened onto the roof through the adhesive, maintenance is quite inconvenient if the base is damaged. Further, the photovoltaic module would easily fall off and cause an accident during an earthquake or strong wind due to the unfirm fixing.

SUMMARY

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a photovoltaic module installation device for installing a photovoltaic module on a roof.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a photovoltaic module installation device for installing a photovoltaic module on a roof is provided. The photovoltaic module installation device includes a fixture clipped on the roof, a lower connection piece locked on the fixture, a first support frame disposed on the lower connection piece, an upper connection piece and a second support frame. The upper connection piece is fitted on the first support frame and is locked with the lower connection piece. The second support frame is substantially perpendicularly fixed on the first support frame, and the photovoltaic module is fixed on the second support frame.

The photovoltaic module installation device further includes a plurality of bolts and nuts. The lower connection piece includes a plurality of obround holes, and the bolts penetrate through the upper connection piece and the obround holes to be locked with the nuts. The upper connection piece includes a bending portion and an extending portion connected with the bending portion. The bending portion is sleeved on the first support frame, and the bolts penetrate through the extending portion. The photovoltaic module installation device includes a bolt and a spring nut. The second support frame includes an obround hole, and the bolt penetrates through the obround hole and is locked with the spring nut located in the first support frame. The photovoltaic module includes an external frame, and the external frame is locked on the second support frame. The photovoltaic module installation device includes a first wire collection slot and a first connection member connecting the first wire collection slot and the first support frame. The photovoltaic module installation device includes a bolt and a nut, and the bolt penetrates through the first wire collection slot and the first connection member to be locked with the nut. The photovoltaic module installation device includes a bolt and a spring nut, a second end of the first connection member is fitted on the first support frame, and the bolt penetrates through the second end to be locked with the spring nut located in the first support frame. The photovoltaic module installation device includes a second wire collection slot disposed on the first support frame, a third support frame disposed on the second wire collection slot and a second connection member connecting the first support frame, the third support frame and the second wire collection slot. The photovoltaic module installation device includes a bolt and a spring nut, wherein the second connection member includes a body, two holding portions and an erecting portion. The holding portions are located on two opposite sides of the body and fitted on the first support frame, and the erecting portion is fixed on the second wire collection slot. The bolt penetrates through the body to be locked with the spring nut located in the first support frame.

The photovoltaic module system uses a fixture clipped on a roof, which does not destroy the roof and is convenient for rework. The parts of the photovoltaic module system are mostly fixed through bolts and nuts, and have the characteristics of easy installation and rework. Further, the portions where the bolts and nuts are used to lock in the photovoltaic module system mostly adopt obround holes, which can provide displacement elasticity before the bolts are fastened and thus are convenient for adjusting positions of components so that the assembling becomes easier.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention can be more fully understood by reading the following detailed description of the embodiment, with reference made to the accompanying drawings as follows:

FIG. 1 is an oblique diagram of an embodiment of a photovoltaic module is system using the photovoltaic module installation device according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded schematic diagram of the lower connection piece 170 and the fixture 130 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an exploded schematic diagram view of the first support frame 140 and the fixture 130 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram view showing the connection between the photovoltaic module 120 and the second support frame 150 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a sectional diagram taken along a sectional line B-B of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a sectional diagram taken along a sectional line A-A of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is an oblique diagram of the second support frame 150 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is an oblique diagram of another embodiment of a photovoltaic module system using the photovoltaic module installation device according to another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a sectional diagram taken along a sectional line C-C of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is an oblique diagram of the second connection member 230 of FIG. 8; and

FIG. 11 is an exploded oblique diagram of the second wire collection slot 210, the first support frame 140, the third support frame 240 and the second connection member 230 of FIG. 8.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following description and appended claims. It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are by examples, and are intended to provide further explanation of the present invention as claimed.

FIG. 1 is an oblique diagram of an embodiment of a photovoltaic module system using a photovoltaic module installation device according to one embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 1, a photovoltaic module system 100 is installed on a roof 110. The photovoltaic module system 100 includes plural photovoltaic modules 120 and a photovoltaic module installation device for fixing the photovoltaic modules 120 on the roof 110. The photovoltaic module installation device includes plural of fixtures 130, plural first support frames 140, plural second support frames 150, plural upper connection pieces 160, plural lower connection pieces 170 and plural bolts 180. The fixtures 130 are clipped on the roof 110. The first support frames 140 are fixed on the fixtures 130 through the upper connection pieces 160, lower connection pieces 170 and bolts 180. The photovoltaic modules 120 are fixed on the second support frames 150. The second support frames 150 are locked on the first support frames 140 through the bolts 180 to fix the photovoltaic modules 120. The first support frames 140 and the second support frame 150 are substantially perpendicular to each other.

FIG. 2 is an exploded schematic diagram of the lower connection piece 170 and the fixture 130 of FIG. 1. Referring to FIG. 2, the fixture 130 is clipped on a protruding portion of the roof 110. Plural screw holes 190 are disposed on a side of the fixture 130 opposite to the roof 110. The lower connection piece 170 includes plural sink holes 192 and plural obround holes 194. The bolts 180 penetrate through the sink holes 192 on the lower connection piece 170 to be locked with the screw holes 190 on the fixture 130, so as to fix the lower connection piece 170 on the fixture 130.

FIG. 3 is an exploded schematic diagram of the first support frame 140 and the fixture 130 of FIG. 1. Referring to FIG. 3, the fixture 130 is clipped on the roof 110, and the lower connection piece 170 is fixed on the fixture 130 through the bolts 180. The first support frame 140 is placed on the lower connection piece 170, and then the upper connection piece 160 is fitted on the first support frame 140 to hold the first support frame 140 and lock the upper connection piece 160 and the lower connection piece 170 through the bolts 180.

The upper connection piece 160 has a U-shaped bending portion 162 and two extending portions 164 connected to two sides of the bending portion 162. The shape of the bending portion 162 corresponds to the profile of the first support frame 140, and the first support frame 140 is fitted in the bending portion 162, so that the bending portion 162 confines the displacement of the first support frame 140. The two extending portions 164 respectively have a sink hole 192, and the bolts 180 can penetrate through the sink holes 192 of the upper connection piece 160 and the obround holes 194 of the lower connection piece 170 to be locked with the nuts 182, so as to fix the upper connection piece 160 on the lower connection piece 170. The obround holes 194 of the lower connection piece 170 can provide displacement elasticity before the bolts 180 are fastened, and thus it is convenient to adjust the positions of the upper connection piece 160 and the lower connection piece 170, so that the assembling becomes easier.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing the connection between the photovoltaic module 120 and the second support frame 150 of FIG. 1. Referring to FIG. 4, the photovoltaic module 120 includes an external frame 122 and a photovoltaic panel (not shown), and the photovoltaic panel is fixed in the external frame 122. The external frame 122 can be locked on the second support frame 150 through the bolts 180 or other locking devices.

FIG. 5 is a sectional diagram taken along a sectional line B-B of FIG. 4. Referring to FIG. 5, the second support frame 150 includes a bottom 152 and a first side wall 154 and a second side wall 156 connected to two sides of the bottom 152. The first side wall 154 is in contact with a bottom of the external frame 122. The bolts 180 penetrate through the external frame 122 and the first side wall 154, and then are locked with the nuts 182. A washer 184 is provided between the bolts 180 and the external frame 122. The washer 184 and an elastic element 186 are provided between the nuts 182 and the first side wall 154, thereby improving the locking force of the bolts 180 and the nuts 182.

FIG. 6 is a sectional diagram taken along a sectional line A-A of FIG. 1. Referring to FIG. 6, the first support frame 140 is a U-shaped structure. The first support frame 140 is in contact with the second side wall 156 of the second support frame 150. The bolts 180 penetrate through the second side wall 156 to be locked with the spring nuts 188 located in the first support frame 140, so as to position the first support frame 140 and the second support frame 150. The washer 184 and the elastic element 186 may be further provided between the bolts 180 and the second side wall 156, so as to improve the locking strength.

Referring to both FIG. 5 and FIG. 7, FIG. 7 is an oblique diagram of the second support frame 150 of FIG. 1. The first side wall 154 of the second support frame 150 has sink holes 192. The bolts 180 penetrate through the sink holes 192 to be locked with the nuts 182 when the external frame 122 and the second support frame 150 are assembled. Referring to both FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, the second side wall 156 of the second support frame 150 has the obround holes 194. The obround holes 194 can provide some displacement elasticity before the bolts 180 are fastened when the first support frame 140 and the second support frame 150 are assembled and thus are convenient for adjusting the positions so that the assembling becomes easier.

FIG. 8 is an oblique diagram of another embodiment of the photovoltaic module system using the photovoltaic module installation device according to the present invention. Referring to FIG. 8, the photovoltaic module system 100 further includes a first wire collection slot 200 and a second wire collection slot 210 for receiving wires (not shown) of the photovoltaic module 120. The photovoltaic module system 100 further includes a first connection member 220 for connecting the first wire collection slot 200 and the first support frame 140. The photovoltaic module system 100 further includes a second connection member 230 and a third support frame 240, for connecting the second wire collection slot 210 and the first support frame 140.

FIG. 9 is a sectional diagram taken along a sectional line C-C of FIG. 8. Referring to FIG. 9, the first connection member 220 has a first end 222 and a second end 224 opposite to each other. The first end 222 is used for connecting the first support frame 140 and is in contact with the first support frame 140. The second end 224 is used for connecting the first wire collection slot 200 and is in contact with the first wire collection slot 200. The first end 222 and the second end 224 are respectively provided with the sink holes (not shown). The first end 222 of the first connection member 220 may have a bending profile, so that the first end 222 of the first connection member 220 is fitted on the first support frame 140. The bolts 180 penetrate through openings of the first connection member 220 to be locked with the spring nuts 188 in the first support frame 140, so as to fix the first connection member 220 on the first support frame 140. The second end 224 of the first connection member 220 is in contact with the first wire collection slot 200, so that the bolts 180 penetrate through the first wire collection slot 200 and the openings of the first connection member 220 to be locked with the nuts 182, so as to fix the first wire collection slot 200 on the first connection member 220. In the above assembling manner using the bolts 180 for locking, an elastic element or a washer may be selectively disposed to enhance the locking strength. In this way, the first wire collection slot 200 can be fixed on the photovoltaic module system 100 through the first connection member 220.

FIG. 10 is an oblique diagram of the second connection member 230 of FIG. 8. Referring to FIG. 10, the second connection member 230 includes a body 231, two holding portions 232 and an erecting portion 234. The holding portions 232 respectively extend vertically downwards from two opposite sides of the body 231. The erecting portion 234 extends upwards from a back side of the body 231. The body 231 has sink holes 192 thereon.

FIG. 11 is an oblique diagram of the second wire collection slot 210, the first support frame 140, the third support frame 240, and the second connection member 230 of FIG. 8. The second wire collection slot 210 is placed on the first support frame 140, and the third support frame 240 is then placed on the second wire collection slot 210, so as to confine the displacement of the second wire collection slot 210. The second connection member 230 is used to fix the first support frame 140, the second wire collection slot 210 and the third support frame 240. Two holding portions 232 are sleeved on the first support frame 140 to prevent the first support frame 140 from rotating.

In this embodiment, bolts and nuts are used for locking. Specifically, the bolts 180 sequentially penetrate through the sink holes (not shown) of the third support frame 240 and the sink holes (see FIG. 10) of the body 231 of the second connection member 230, and are locked with a spring nut 188, so as to fix the second wire collection slot 210 on the first support frame 140 to confine the movement of the second wire collection slot 210 in a direction perpendicular to a horizontal plane. Furthermore, the nut 182 is further provided between the second connection member 230 and the second support frame 240 so that the bolt 180 penetrates through the nut 182, and the nut 182 is screwed tightly in a direction towards the first support frame 140, so as to further fix the second connection member 230 and the first support frame 140. Moreover, the washer 184 and the elastic element 186 may further be provided between the bolt 180 and the third support frame 240, so as to improve the locking strength. The washer 184 and the elastic element 186 may also be provided between the nut 182 and the body 231 of the second connection member 230, so as to improve the locking strength.

The erecting portion 234 extends vertically upwards from a side of the body 231 opposing to the holding portions 232, the erecting portion 234 is attached on a side wall of the second wire collection slot 210, and the erecting portion 234 is fixed on the second wire collection slot 210 through a rivet 185.

The materials of the first support frame 140, the second support frame 150, the third support frame 240, the first connection member 220 and the second connection member 230 may be metal, glass reinforced plastic, rigid plastic, bakelite, composite materials and so on.

According to the above embodiments, the present invention has following advantages. The photovoltaic module system uses the fixture clipped on a roof, which does not destroy the roof and is convenient for rework. All parts of the photovoltaic module system are mostly fixed through the bolts and nuts, which has the characteristics of easy assembling and rework. Furthermore, the portions where the bolts and nuts are used to lock in the photovoltaic module system mostly adopt obround holes, which can provide some displacement elasticity before the bolts are fastened and thus are convenient for adjusting the positions of the components so that the assembling becomes easier.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment thereof, this embodiment is not intended to limit the present invention. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made without departing from the scope or spirit of the present invention. Therefore, the scope of the present invention shall be defined by the appended claims. 

1. A photovoltaic module installation device for installing a photovoltaic module on a roof, the photovoltaic module installation device comprising: a fixture clipped on the roof; a lower connection piece locked on the fixture; a first support frame disposed on the lower connection piece; an upper connection piece fitted on the first support frame and locked with the lower connection piece; and a second support frame substantially perpendicularly fixed on the first support frame, wherein the photovoltaic module is fixed on the second support frame.
 2. The photovoltaic module installation device of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of bolts and a plurality of nuts, wherein the lower connection piece comprises a plurality of obround holes, and the bolts penetrate through the upper connection piece and the obround holes to be locked with the nuts.
 3. The photovoltaic module installation device of claim 2, wherein the upper connection piece comprises a U-shaped bending portion and two extending portions connected with the bending portion, wherein the bending portion is sleeved on the first support frame, and the bolts penetrate through the two extending portions respectively.
 4. The photovoltaic module installation device of claim 3, further comprising a bolt and a spring nut, wherein the second support frame comprises an obround hole, and the bolt penetrates through the obround hole to be locked with the spring nut located in the first support frame.
 5. The photovoltaic module installation device of claim 4, wherein the photovoltaic module comprises an external frame, and the external frame is locked on the second support frame.
 6. The photovoltaic module installation device of claim 5, further comprising a first wire collection slot and a first connection member connecting the first wire collection slot and the first support frame.
 7. The photovoltaic module installation device of claim 6, further comprising a bolt and a nut, and the first connection member has a first end and a second end, wherein the bolt penetrates through the first wire collection slot and the second end of the first connection member to be locked with the nut.
 8. The photovoltaic module installation device of claim 7, further comprising a bolt and a spring nut, wherein the first end of the first connection member is fitted on the first support frame, and the bolt penetrates through the first end to be locked with the spring nut located in the first support frame.
 9. The photovoltaic module installation device of claim 6, further comprising a second wire collection slot disposed on the first support frame, a third support frame disposed on the second wire collection slot, and a second connection member connecting the first support frame, the third support frame and the second wire collection slot.
 10. The photovoltaic module installation device of claim 9, further comprising a bolt and a spring nut, wherein the second connection member comprises a body, two holding portions and an erecting portion, the holding portions respectively extend vertically downwards from two opposite sides of the body and fitted on the first support frame; the erecting portion extends upwards from a back side of the body and is fixed on the second wire collection slot, and the bolt penetrates through the third support frame and the body to be locked with the spring nut located in the first support frame.
 11. The photovoltaic module installation device of claim 1, further comprising a bolt and a spring nut, wherein the second support frame comprises a bottom, and a first side wall and a second side wall connected to two sides of the bottom, the second side wall has an obround hole, and the bolt penetrates through the obround hole to be locked with the spring nut located in the first support frame. 